Apparatus for collating sheet like elements

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for collating sheet like elements that includes initially feeding the sheet elements by a first conveyor in a spaced tandem relation at a high linear velocity into a spiral carrier. The spiral carrier includes a plurality of arcuate fingers having spiral slots formed therebetween. The sheets traveling at the relatively high rate of speed are projected individually into the slots of the spiral carrier also traveling at a relatively high linear speed. As each of the sheets follows the inwardly spiraling path of the slots, their linear velocity is substantially reduced so that when the sheet edges contact a stop plate, they are decelerated from the initial high linear speed. The stop plate directs the sheets radially outwardly from the slots of the spiral carrier into frictional engagement between the endless belts of a second conveyor. The second conveyor traveling at a substantially lower linear speed feeds the sheets in a continuous stream exposing only a marginal edge between adjacent elements for completion of further production operations. The sheet like elements are then supplied by the second conveyor in underlapped relation to a separator conveyor and are discharged therefrom onto a transfer conveyor.

ltl States atent r191 ethlte 1 Nov, 12, 11974 [75] Inventor: ErwinEetlnlte, Erkelenz-Keyenberg,

Germany [73] Assignee: F. L. Smithe Machine Company,

llnc., Duneansville, Pa.

[22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 328,135

[52] US. Cl 271/80, 93/62, 271/2, 271/187, 271/202 [51] int. Cl B651129/66 [58] Field of Search 271/2, 69, 70, 80, 76, 271/151, 187., 202;93/62 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,172,364 9/1939 DeManna 3,096,977 7/1963 Winkler et a1. 3,116,668 1/1964 Novick 3,630,1255/1970 3,650,527 3/1972 Helm 271/76 Primary Examiner-Richard A. SchacherAssistant Examiner-Bruee H. Stoner, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for collating sheet like elements that ineludesinitially feeding the sheet elements by a first conveyor in a spacedtandem relation at a high linear velocity into a spiral carrier. Thespiral carrier ineludes a plurality of areuate fingers having spiralslots formed therebetween. The sheets traveling at the relatively highrate of speed are projected individually into the slots of the spiralcarrier also traveling at a relatively high linear speed. As each of thesheets follows the inwardly spiraling path of the slots, their linearvelocity is substantially reduced so that when the sheet edges contact astop plate, they are decelerated from the initial high linear speed. Thestop plate directs the sheets radially outwardly from the slots of thespiral carrier into frictional engagement between the endless belts of asecond conveyor. The second conveyor traveling at a substantially lowerlinear speed feeds the sheets in a continuous stream exposing only amarginal edge between adjacent elements for completion of furtherproduction operations. The sheet like elements are then supplied by thesecond conveyor in underlapped relation to a separator conveyor and aredischarged therefrom onto a transfer conveyor.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR COLLATTNG SHEET LIKE ELEMENTSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to an apparatus for collating sheet like elements and moreparticularly to an appara tus for collating envelope blanks inunclerlapped relation for application of sealing adhesive to themarginal edges of the seal flap left exposed between adjacent envelopes.

2. Descriptionof the Prior Art The application of gumming adhesive to amarginal area of the seal flap of an envelope by conveying individualenvelope blanks from a fast moving mechanism to a slow moving mechanismfor arranging the blanks in a staggered or lapped relation to permitcontinuous application of a gumming adhesive by a roller applicator tothe marginal edges ofthe blanks is known, as illustrated in US. Pat.Nos. 3,141,667; 3,096,977; 2,918,278; 3,479,025 and 3,672,667. US. Pat.No. 2,782,898 provides a mechanism for collating envelope blanks bytransferring the blanks from a fast conveying means onto a slowconveying means positioned at a lower lever to thereby preventinterference between the slow advancing trailing edge of a blank withthe faster advancing leading edge of the next following blank. Aresilient paddlewheel disposed betweenthe conveying means engages theblanks as they leave the bight of the faster conveyor providingcontinuous travel of the blanks at thefast linear speed to the lowerplane wherethe blanks are engaged by the slowconveyor.

The paddle wheel maintains the traveling blank at the fast linear speeduntil the forward edge of the blank engages the rollers of the slowconveyor. The trailing edge of the slow moving blank then falls clear ofthe fast.

moving leading edge of the succeeding blank which then is thrust intothe feed'bight of the slow conveyor. With this arrangement thesucceeding blank overlap moves at a higher relative speed intooverlapped relation with the preceding blank subsequently engaged in thefeed bight of the slow conveyor. 1n the collating of formed envelopeshaving window patches secured thereto, relative movement betweensuccessive envelopes in lapped relation frequently results in thehooking of window patches by the following edge of the precedingenvelope to skew the entire stream of envelopes.

US. Pat. No. 1,681,162 discloses a delivery apparafold-laying rollersare arranged to contact the advance edge of the paper being carrieddownwardly and toward the left of the fly device. Contact with the paperedge moves the paper out of engagement with the fly device projectingthe paper forwardly in advance of the position which the paper wouldotherwise have had upon the pile of papers on the belt. With thisarrangement, the kicker device changes the position of one paper withoutchanging the position of adjacent papers. Preferably, the kicker isactuated twice at each rotation of the cam to thereby change theposition of one paper for every fifty papers received upon the belts toprovide for separation of the papers in unit piles.

In US. Pat. No. 3,116,668, an envelope folding and delivery mechanismperforms the operations of folding and adhering of the bottom flap of anenvelope blank,

folding of the dried seal flap, and delivery of the tinished envelopesone by one into stack fonnation. The spaced out envelope blanks aretransferred with the bottom flap leading and the seal flap trailing froma first suction drum to a second suction drum where the fold along thebottom flap is initiated as the blank advances over the drum. Acontinuously rotating pressure roller picks up the bottom flap of theblank released by the second suction drum and folds it over the bodyportion of the blank. Suction means on the second drum holds the leadingmargin of the seal flap portion to the drum while the body portion isfolded over onto the seal flap portion. Thereafter, the folded blanksare discharged individually by the second drum at a relatively highinitial rate of travel upwardly into the spiral slots of a comparativelyslow revolving slotted carrier. The slotted carrier includes a pluralityof overlapping curved slots which spiral inwardly in the direction ofrotation of the carrier. The blanks are decelerated in the slots and arearrested by a stationary horizontal table which extends secant to theslotted carrier. The table acts to eject the blanks from the slots asthe carrier continues tus for printing presses arranged to separatenewspapers into unit piles coming from a press. The printed papers areinitially folded and collected for delivery be tween a pair of overlyingfold-laying rollers which direct successively moving folded papersdownwardly along the face of a plurality of guide bars. The papersadvancing downwardly along the faces of the guide bars are dischargedinto slots between adjacent arms of a plurality of rotary fly devices.The rotary fly devices rotate in a clockwise direction and deliversuccessive to rotate downwardly. In this manner, all the blanks arestacked so that the lower edges are pressedagainst the table with theblanks arranged in a fully overlapped re lation. As each envelope isadded to the stack, the stack is pushed along the table by the carrierto the extent of the thickness of the added blank. The slotted carrieris not arranged to discharge the blanks from the surface of the table;consequently, the blanks come to a complete rest in a stacked relation.

US. Pat. No. 1,266,737 describes an apparatus for directing a pluralityof folded sheets in a first direction and then a plurality of foldedsheets in another direction. The two bundles of sheets are then arrangedinto one pile in which the folded edges face in opposite directions.Initially, folded sheets are delivered by a pair papers one at a timeupon the delivery belts providing of cylinders between two guides in acontinuous stream. A pair of fans are positioned adjacent each otherwith their fan blades arranged tangent to the opening'between theguides. The fans are supported for oscillating motion on shafts whicharepositioned in the side frame at different levels so that the bladesof one fan may be arranged to receive folded sheets discharged frombetween the guides while the blades of the other fan are withdrawn fromthe path of the sheets. With this arrangement, the blades of one fanreceive the folded sheets and deliver them to a conveyor in stackedrelation, the succeeding sheet positioned upon the preceding sheet. Thenafter a predetermined number of sheets have been stacked, the first fanis withdrawn from the guide path and the other fan is oscillate'd intoposition to receive the sheets. The second fan revolving in the reversedirection of the first fan, delivers the sheets in reverse position uponthe stack of sheets positioned beneath the blades of the first fan. Whenthe desired number of sheets have been stacked, an elevator removes thebundle for further processing.

There is need for an envelope collating mechanism that does not requireelaborate apparatus to efficiently reduce the speed'of the individuallyconveyed envelope blanks for orderly arrangement in lapped relation forfurther processing. Further, there is need for a collating apparatuswhich arranges successive blanks in a lapped relation withoutnecessitating relative movement between blanks as they are positioned inlapped relation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The hereinafter described invention relates toapparatus for collating a plurality of sheet like elements that areinitially conveyed in spaced tandem relation at a first preselectedlinear speed. A first conveying means transfers the separated sheetelements at a high linear speed into a collating mechanism. Thecollating mechanism includes a pair of spaced spiral carriers eachhaving a plurality of slots arranged to receive the sheet elements asthey are discharged from, the fast moving conveyor. The spiral carrierreceives the sheet elements in the receiving slots and the sheets arethen directed inwardly along the spiral path of the slots. The bottomedges of the sheets contact a stop plate interposed between the spacedspiral carriers. The stop plates arrest the circular motion of thesheets and direct the sheets radially outwardly in the slots. The sheetspositioned in the slots are deceleratedand are discharged fromthe slotsin underlapped relation as they are positioned on a secondconveyingmeans.

The linear speed of the second conveying means is sufficiently lowerthan the linear speed of the first conveying means so that the sheetelements are arranged in underlapped relation to expose a marginal edgebetween adjacent sheets. As the underlapped sheets are fed between theendless belts of the second slower conveying means sealing adhesive iscontinuously applied to the exposed edge by'an adhesive applicator.

The sheets are conveyed through the endless belts of the secondconveying means into frictional engagement with a separating conveyingmeans in underlapped relation. Thereafter, the separating conveyingmeans discharges the underlapped sheet elements to a transfer conveyingmeans. The separating conveying means includes an endless belt thatconveys the sheets around an enlarged drum arranged to travel atsufficiently greater linear speed than the second conveying means sothat the sheets may be separated from their underlapped relation andpositioned on the transfer conveying means for subsequent feeding to adrier section before the sheets are suitably stacked for furtheroperations.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide anapparatus for collating sheet elements in underlapped relation byefficiently decelerating the separated sheets.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forcollating sheet elements that maintains proper alignmentof the sheets asthey are being fed from a fast moving conveyor into a spiral carrier andthereafter to a slow moving conveyor.

Another object of this invention is toprovide an apparatus for collatingsheet elements that positions successive elements in underlappedrelation without requiring relative movement of one element with respectto another element having a different linear speed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forcollating formed envelopes having window patches secured thereto so thatsuccessive envelopes are lapped for application of gumming adhesivewithout having thefollowing edge of a preceding envelope hookingthewindow patch of the succeeding envelope.

These and other objects of this invention will be more completelydisclosed and described in the following specification, the accompanyingdrawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration inside elevation of the apparatus for collating sheet elements.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the sequential steps offorming an envelope and arranging the formed envelopes in underlappedrelation for application of the sealing adhesive.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view in elevation of the collatorsection according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in cross'section illustrating the collatorsection according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The term collating apparatus isintended to designate apparatus for rearranging blanks which areadvanced at high speed in spaced relation into a slow moving band ofblanks arrangedin lapped relation.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1, there is illustratedthe apparatus for collating sheet like elements generally designated bythe numeral 10 having a feed conveyor 11 from which the sheet likeelements are initially supplied at a high preselected linear speed inspaced tandem relation for collating in an orderly arrangement and foradditional production operations thereafter. For purposes ofillustration only, the sheet like elements are hereinafter referred toas folded envelopes or envelopes 12; however, it should be understoodthat envelope blanks, folded or unfolded as shown in FIG. 2, or anyother type of sheet like material also may be supplied by the feedconveyor 11 to the collating apparatus 10.

In FIG. I of the illustrated embodiment of this invention a plurality offolded envelopes 12 are supplied in spaced tandem relation by the feedconveyor 11 after completion of preceding operations such as cutting,patching, folding, etc. in station 14. The feed conveyor 11 includes aplurality of suitable pressure rollers 15 arranged in abutting overlyingrelation and supported in the envelope machine side member (not shown).The pressure rollers 15 revolving at a preselected high peripheralvelocity continually advance the envelopes 12 at a fixed high linearspeed along the feedline 13 in the direction indicated by the arrow andinto frictional engagement with a backing roll 16. The friction typebacking roll 16 is supported by a pivot arm 18 that is, in turn,pivotally connected by pin 20 to the machine side member. The backingroll 16 abuts end pressure roller 21 and is driven at the sameperipheral velocity thereof. A guide plate 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3,threadably secured to a support disc 23, which is suitably mounted inthe machine side member, has an arcuate end portion 24. The guide plate22 extends downwardly from a location adjacent the nip between the endpressure roller 21 and the backing roll B6.

The fast moving envelopes 112 are directed downwardly through the nipbetween the end pressure roller 21 and the backing roll 16 and along theguide plate 22 into the collating mechanism generally designated by thenumeral '25. The collating mechanism 25 includes a spiral carrier 26having a plur'alityof spaced slotted discs or a single cylindricalmember with a plurality of spaced slots therein mounted on the shaft 28as illustrated in FIG. 4.. The discs 26 have a plurality of pockets orslots 36 formed therein which are shaped as segments of a spiral. Theparticular configuration of the arcuate fingers 32 that form the slots30 therebetween is such that there is a substantial opening in the slotadjacent the periphery of the discs 26. Each of the plurality of theslotted discs 26 is retained from relative movement on the shaft 28journaled in the side frames 29 and 31 by a collar 34 nonrotatablymounted on shaft 28 by a set screw 36 threadably engaged to the shaft28. The shoulder portion 38 of the collar 34 frictionally abuts thecentral bore 40 of the disc 26 for rotational movement therewith. Thecollar 34 is, in turn, retained from rotating on the shaft 28 by the hub42 suitably clamped onto the shaft 28. Conventional drive gears arecarried on the shaft 28 for imparting rotation thereto at a preselectedspeed by a suitable power source.

Referring to FIG. 3, the configuration of the arcuate fingers 32 of thedisc 26 is such that a substantial opening is provided in the slots 36to receive the envelopes l2 traveling at the relatively high speed. Thediscs 26 are driven by the gearing 35 at a preselected peripheralvelocity which may be greater than the velocity of the pressure rollers15. The configuration of each of the plurality of spiral carriers 26 issuch that there are provided substantially more slots than are necessaryto receive the envelopes l2 supplied to the spiral carrier 26 from thefeed conveyor Ill. In the event an envelope misses one slot, the slotconfiguration is such that it will enter the next successive slot andthe next finished envelope the follows may enter the next successiveslot, or it may miss one or two successive slots before entering a slotso positioned to receive the envelope as it is propelled by the endpressure roller 21 and the backing roll 16 along the guide plate 22.

As the spiral carrier 26 rotates in the direction indicated by thearrow, the envelopes 12 contained in the slots 30 travel inwardly alongthe spiral path thereof and contact the stop plates 48 interposedbetween the spaced spiral carriers 26, as illustrated in FIG. 4.Preferably, the stop plate 48 is supported by a pivot arm 56 displacedtransversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 28 so that thesurface of the stop plate 48 is in juxtaposition to the carrier 26. Thepivot arm 56 is connected to the end portion of lever 52 by pin 54. Thelever 52 is nonrotatably mounted at its other end portion to a shaft 56nonrotatably journaled in the machine side frames 29 and 31.

The envelopes 12 are projected into the slots 30 from the feed conveyor111 with the envelope bottom edge 57 (shown in FIG. 2) foremost anddecelerate as they follow the inwardly spiral path underlapping thepreceding slot. The downward circular motion of the envelopes 12positioned in the slots 30 is arrested by the stop plate 48. As thespiral carrier 26 continues to re volve clockwise, the envelopes 12 aredirected along the horizontal surface of the stop plate 48 and radiallyoutwardly in the slots 30. The envelopes 12 are discharged from theslots 30 at a continually decelerating rate of speed onto a pair ofsubstantially slower moving conveyor belts 58, only one of which isshown. The conveyor belt 58 is arranged in a position adjacent theperiphery of the spiral carrier 26 and along a vertical planesubstantially at a right angle to a horizontal plate passing through thetransverse axis of the shaft 28. However, it should be understood thatconveyor belt 58 may be positioned at any other suitable locationadjacent the periphery of the spiral carrier 26.

The conveyor belt 58 is reeved around end pulley 60 and the hub 62 ofend pulley 64 wit takeup pulley 70 positioned therebetween. The hub 62is seated by a key 66 in a keyway of the shaft 68 for rotationtherewith. Each of the conveyor belts 58 has a conveying reach 72 whichis in abutting relation with overlying conveying reach 74 of each of thepair of endless belts 76, only one of which is shown. The endless belt76 is reeved about end pulleys 78 and 80 and has takeup pulley 82.Suitable drive means (not shown) are provided to propel the conveyorbelt 58 and the endless belt 76 at substantially the same preselectedlinear speed. A tension control pulley 84 is suitably arranged tomaintain a preselected tension in the endless belt 76.

The spiral carrier 26 transfers without interruption the separatedenvelopes l2 from the fast moving conveyor ll into frictional engagementbetween the slow moving conveyor belts 58 and 76. With this arrangement,the bottom edge 57 of a preceding envelope 12 is discharged from theslot 36 by the stop plate 48 and thrust into frictional engagementbetween the slow moving belts 58 and 76. The envelopes l2 dischargedseparately fromthe spiral carrier 26 are arranged in underlappedrelation having a narrow margin exposed be tween adjacent seal flapswhen received by the belts 58 and 76; therefore, no relative movementtakes place between adjacent envelopes which would tend to skewthe-envelopes advancing in a continuous stream between the belts 53 and76. The stream of envelopes pass in underlapped relation between theconveying reaches 72 and 74 into frictional engagement with an adhesiveapplicator roller 33 arranged between the pairs of belts 53 and 76. Theroller 88 is provided to transfer a selected amount of adhesive onto theexposed margin of the closely adjacent envelope seal flaps. Theperiphery of the applicator roller 88 is continuously supplied with sealflap adhesive by a transfer roller 90 positioned in abutting relationwith an adhesive roller 92. A continuous supply of the sealing adhesiveis delivered from the reservoir 94 to the adhesive roller 92 and, inturn, to the applicator roller 88. The envelopes 12 are conveyed betweenthe conveyor belts 58 and 76 in underlapped relation with the seal flapportions 85 of the envelopes aligned closely adjacent each other asillustrated in FIG. 2.

The band of envelopes are discharged from between the endless belts 58and 76 into contact with a guide plate 95 and are thereafter introducedin the same underlapped relation onto endless belt 96 that conveys theenvelopes 12 around the periphery of the enlarged drum 98. The endlessbelt 96 is reeved about the drum 98 and end pulleys 100 and 102 andmaintained at a preselected tension by takeup pulleys 104 and 106. Aseries of carriage rolls 108 are pivotally secured to shafts 110 bylevers 112 and are urged against the endless belt 96 around theperiphery of the drum 98 by suitable resilient means. Guide bars 114extend forwardly from the carriage roll shafts 110 and maintain theunderlapped envelopes 12 in abutting relation with the. endless belt 96as the envelopes are conveyed around the circumference of the drum 98.

The drum 98 has a shaft 115 suitably mounted in the envelope machineframe and is driven at a preselected linear speed which'is greater thanthe linear speed of the endless belts 58 and 76 so that the envelopesare separated, increasing the area of the marginal edges exposed betweenadjacent envelopes. The underlapped envelopes 12 are then fed intofrictional engagement between the endless belts 96 and 116 after theyhave been conveyed around the circumference of the drum 98 by thecooperating guide bars 114 and the endless belt 96. The endless belt 116is reeved about suitable end pulleys 118 and 120 and takeup pulley 122in abutting relationship with an overlying conveying reach 124 ofendless belt 96.

The envelopes 12 are discharged from between the endless belts 96 and116 and are supplied therefrom to the transfer conveyor 126 located inthe envelope machine drier section generally designated by the numeral128, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The conveyor 126 is formed from endlesstapes 130 and 132 that are reeved around suitable end pulleys 134 and136 and have takeup devices 138. The endless tapes 130 and 132 of theconveyor 126 are preferably driven at a slightly higher speed than theendless belts 116 and 96 to thereby increase the speed between thebottom edges 57 of adjacent envelopes as they are engaged by theconveyor '126. The abrupt increase in linear speed separates the sealflap portion 85 of adjacent envelopes to prevent the envelopes 12 fromadhering to each other after drying in section 128. Suitable drive means140, schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, is provided to propel theendless tapes 130 and 132 for conveying the envelopes 12 through thedrier section 128 and for discharging thereafter onto a suitablestacking device (not shown). It should be understood that other suitabledrive means may be provided to propel the endless tapes 130 and 132, andthe schematic belt drives illustrated in FIG. 1 are exemplary only.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple, preferred construction and mode of operation of my inventionand have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent itsbest embodiments. However, I desire to have it understood that, withinthe scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim: 1. Apparatus for collating sheet like elements comprising,

first conveyor means for conveying a plurality of sheet like elements inspaced tandem relation at a first preselected linear speed, secondconveyor means for conveying said sheet like elements in lapped relationas a continuous stream for further processing at a second preselectedlinear speed, said second conveyor means spaced from said first conveyormeans,

a collator mechanism positioned adjacent the discharge end of said firstconveyor means, said collator mechanism including a plurality ofcircular spaced disc members having spaced arcuate slots therein, saidslots having a configuration of a segment of a spiral,

said plurality of spaced disc members coaxially mounted on a shaft forrotational movement therewith at a preselected peripheral velocity,

means for rotating said plurality of spaced disc members at a higherspeed than said first preselected linear speed of said first conveyormeans,

stop plate means arranged between said plurality of spaced disc members,said stop plate means terminating within the periphery of said circularspaced disc members, and

said collator mechanism arranged to receive said sheet like elements inspaced tandem ralation from said first conveyor means at a firstpreselected linear speed and said stop plate means arranged to arrestthe circular movement of said sheet like elements and move said sheetlike elements radially outwardly in said spaced arcuate slots and alongthe surface of said stop means at a decelerating linear speed todischarge said sheet like elements in lapped relation as a continuousstream at a reduced linear velocity to said second conveyor means forfurther processing.

2. Apparatus for collating sheet like elements as set forth in claim 1in which,

said spaced arcuate slots arranged to direct said moving sheet likeelements inwardly along the circular path in the spirals of said spacedarcuate slots,

said second conveyor means positioned below and at an angle to saidfirst conveyor means,

said collator mechanism positioned below the discharge end of said firstconveyor means.

3. Apparatus for collating sheet like elements as set forth in claim 1in which,

said arcuate slots in said disc members have an enlarged open endadjacent the periphery of said disc member for receiving said sheet likeelements.

4. Apparatus for collating sheet like elements as set forth in claim 1in which,

said second conveyor means includes endless conveyor belts positioned inabutting, overlying relation,

one of said endless conveyor belts positioned closely adjacent to saidstop plate means with a portion of said conveyor belt within theperiphery of said circular disc members.

5. Apparatus for collating sheet like elements as set forth in claim 4in which,

said endless conveyor belts of said second conveyor means driven at saidsecond preselected linear speed less than said first preselected linearspeed of said first conveyor means,

said endless conveyor belts arranged to frictionally engage the sheetlike elements abutting said stop plate means in lapped relation fromsaid spaced arcuate slots,

said sheet like elements discharged from said spaced arcuate slots arefrictionally engaged by said endless conveyor belts in a continuousstream arranged in lapped relation and moving uniformly at said secondpreselected linear speed. 6. Apparatus for collating sheet like elementsas set forth in claim in which,

said first conveyor means positioned substantially horizontal to theaxis of rotation of said collator mechanism, said endless conveyor beltsof said second conveyor means are positioned substantially perpendicularto the axis of rotation of said collator mechanism with a portion ofsaid endless conveyor belts within the periphery of said circular discmembers. 7. Apparatus for collating sheet like elements as set forth inclaim 1 which includes,

separator conveying means for separating said plurality of sheet likeelements having preselected linear of spaced arcuate slots.

1. Apparatus for collating sheet like elements comprising, firstconveyor means for conveying a plurality of sheet like elements inspaced tandem relation at a first preselected linear speed, secondconveyor means for conveying said sheet like elements in lapped relationas a continuous stream for further processing at a second preselectedlinear speed, said second conveyor means spaced from said first conveyormeans, a collator mechanism positioned adjacent the discharge end ofsaid first conveyor means, said collator mechanism including a pluralityof circular spaced disc members having spaced arcuate slots therein,said slots having a configuration of a segment of a spiral, saidplurality of spaced disc members coaxially mounted on a shaft forrotational movement therewith at a preselected peripheral velocity,means for rotating said plurality of spaced disc members at a higherspeed than said first preselected linear speed of said first conveyormeans, stop plate means arranged between said plurality of spaced discmembers, said stop plate means terminating within the periphery of saidcircular spaced disc members, and said collator mechanism arranged toreceive said sheet like elements in spaced tandem ralation from saidfirst conveyor means at a first preselected linear speed and said stopplate means arranged to arrest the circular movement of said sheet likeelements and move said sheet like elements radially outwardly in saidspaced arcuate slots and along the surface of said stop means at adecelerating linear speed to discharge said sheet like elements inlapped relation as a continuous stream at a reduced linear velocity tosaid second conveyor means for further processing.
 2. Apparatus forcollating sheet like elements as set forth in claim 1 in which, saidspaced arcuate slots arranged to direct said moving sheet like elementsinwardly along the circular path in the spirals of said spaced arcuateslots, said second conveyor means positioned below and at an angle tosaid first conveyor means, said collator mechanism positioned below thedischarge end of said first conveyor means.
 3. Apparatus for collatingsheet like elements as set forth in claim 1 in which, said arcuate slotsin said disc members have an enlarged open end adjacent the periphery ofsaid disc member for receiving said sheet like elements.
 4. Apparatusfor collating sheet like elements as set forth in claim 1 in which, saidsecond conveyor means includEs endless conveyor belts positioned inabutting, overlying relation, one of said endless conveyor beltspositioned closely adjacent to said stop plate means with a portion ofsaid conveyor belt within the periphery of said circular disc members.5. Apparatus for collating sheet like elements as set forth in claim 4in which, said endless conveyor belts of said second conveyor meansdriven at said second preselected linear speed less than said firstpreselected linear speed of said first conveyor means, said endlessconveyor belts arranged to frictionally engage the sheet like elementsabutting said stop plate means in lapped relation from said spacedarcuate slots, said sheet like elements discharged from said spacedarcuate slots are frictionally engaged by said endless conveyor belts ina continuous stream arranged in lapped relation and moving uniformly atsaid second preselected linear speed.
 6. Apparatus for collating sheetlike elements as set forth in claim 5 in which, said first conveyormeans positioned substantially horizontal to the axis of rotation ofsaid collator mechanism, said endless conveyor belts of said secondconveyor means are positioned substantially perpendicular to the axis ofrotation of said collator mechanism with a portion of said endlessconveyor belts within the periphery of said circular disc members. 7.Apparatus for collating sheet like elements as set forth in claim 1which includes, separator conveying means for separating said pluralityof sheet like elements having preselected linear speed greater than thelinear speed of said second conveyor means, and transfer conveying meansfor receiving said plurality of sheet like elements from said separatorconveying means and transferring said elements, said transfer conveyingmeans being positioned adjacent said separator conveying means. 8.Apparatus for collating sheet like elements as set forth in claim 1which includes, fixed arcuate guide means adjacent the end of said firstconveyor means, said fixed arcuate guide means arranged to guide each ofsaid sheet like elements discharged from said first conveyor means intoone of said plurality of spaced arcuate slots.